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Classifying Rocks
Geology activity for Grade K-2
Materials needed
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A collection of rocks from home or the playground
The internet, an encyclopedia, or a dictionary
Check to see if your library has any mineral or rock classification books with lots
of pictures…
A chalkboard/white board or digital camera and LCD projector
Procedures
1.
What colors are the rocks in this collection?
2. Try sorting the rocks by putting them into groups according to their color.
a. If some of the rocks have multiple colors either go by the overall
color/most abundant
b. If there is only one color present, you might have a mineral this is great
because you could now talk about the primary difference between
minerals and rocks.
i. Minerals are the same throughout
ii. Rocks are made up of more than one mineral and/or other rocks.
At this point draw a few pictures on the board or take some photos to record the
students work.
3.
Do the rocks have different textures? Are some smooth, rough, shiny, dull or
crumble easily?
At this point draw a few pictures on the board or take some photos to record the
students work.
4.
Do all of your rocks of the same size appear to weigh the same when you lift
them? If not, classify them again according to density.
Again, draw a few pictures on the board or take some photos to record the students
work.
5.
Can your students can think of any other ways to sort these rocks into a different
group/s?
6.
Use your resources (internet or books) to lead a discussion about the student’s
rocks. Compare how geologists classify rocks to the methods the students just
used…
7. Ask your students to ‘keep an eye out’ for how rocks are used… Where do the
see them… Minerals and rocks are a very important resource for the materials
that we use every day!!!
Instructor assistance
Prior to the day of this activity ask your students if they have ever pick up a rock
and wondered where it came from… If they say YES, ask them if they would like to
share some of their rock collections (send a note home to parents to ask for their
assistance). These students may have experience in collecting and identifying rocks
that they can share with the group. You might also consider inviting a local geologist,
soil scientist, or member of a local mineral/rock/gem club.
As students learn the different ways rocks may be classified or sorted encourage
them to draw pictures of the rocks and if possible label them (it’s ok if you are not using
the proper terms) just get them excited about making observations and using them to
group the rocks.